youth ecology corps program a crash course in workplace competencies
TRANSCRIPT
Youth Ecology Corps Program
“A Crash Course inWorkplace Competencies”
Youth Ecology Programs
• Youth Ecology Corps are workforce training and ecosystem education
programs aimed at employing youth and young adults while teaching environmental stewardship
• We will look at programs operating in Sonoma, Marin, and Riverside Counties
Sonoma County: Program Focus
• Youth Employment / Youth Development200-300 youth and young adults annually
• Environmental StewardshipCrews complete environmental projects
• Community Benefits Flood Protection, Park Access, Food, Safety
• Strategic PartnershipsGood Government, Leveraged Resources
Sonoma County: Program Information
• Program was started in 2009 • Provides work and learning opportunities for 200-250 youth
and young adults each year• Primarily a summer program with a growing number of year
round crews• Launched with ARRA dollars (Recovery Act)• Sustained by leveraging a range of investments and a growing
set of partners• Highly visible and popular with elected officials / others
Sonoma County: Partners
• The Sonoma County Human Services Department and Workforce Investment Board
• Sonoma County Water Agency • Sonoma County Office of Education • Six local non-profit agencies • New Ways to Work• Parks Alliance for Sonoma County • More than 60 Project Hosts
Sonoma County: Youth
Target populations are 14 to 24 year-old economically disadvantaged youth including: • Current Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Participants • Participants on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(TANF) • Current or former Foster Youth• Participants with disabilities • Pregnant or Parenting youth• Youth involved in the justice system*In addition to these target groups, other youth are served based on funding availability.
Sonoma County: Funding Sources
2013 Program Funders• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through the Workforce
Investment Board• Sonoma County Water Agency• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)• Realignment funds• Parks Alliance (Vintners Foundation, Regional Parks, City
Parks, local grants and contributions)
Sonoma County: Results
Youth• Builds work-readiness skills• Fosters environmental awareness• Builds career awareness and aspiration• Youth save $$ and contribute to household expenses
Environment• Creeks and streams maintained• Habitats restored• Contributes to fish recovery• Helps build environmental awareness.
Sonoma County: Results
Community• Small stream flooding reduced• Access to parks and trails improved• Community gardens planted and harvested• Many other outdoor community projects completed
Program and the Partners• Identifies and connects partners around a common purpose• Wide range of partners help sustain the SCYEC• Responsible use of a range of public funds• Engages private investors.
YEC Communities:
The YEC model is being replicated in a number of communities:
• Marin County• Riverside County• Portland, Oregon
Summer 2014 Pilots Include:• Napa County• Contra Costa County• Alameda County
Marin County: Program Overview
• Summer 2013 pilot program • Two crews of 8 youth• Paid conservation work and career planning
– Indian Valley Organic Farm– John Muir Woods– Mount Tamalpalais
• Planning for expansion in 2014
Marin County: Partners
• Marin Employment Connection • Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
California State Parks • Conservation Corps North Bay• Marin County Board of Supervisors • Marin Charitable Trust• Workforce Investment Board
Marin County: Funding
• Marin County, Department of Health and Human Services, CalWORKS
• Marin County Board of Supervisors• Golden Gate National Recreation – entrance
fees collected from visitors to local state parks
Riverside County: Youth ParticipantsTarget populations are 16 to 21 year-old economically disadvantaged youth including: • Current Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Participants • Participants on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(TANF) • Current or former Foster Youth• Participants with disabilities • Pregnant or Parenting youth• Youth involved in the justice system
*In addition to these target groups, other youth are served based on funding availability.
Riverside County: Partners
The Workforce Investment Board administers the Riverside County Youth Ecology Corps in partnership with:• California Family Life Center (CFLC)• Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)• Workforce Investment Board (WIB)
Riverside County: Funding
The 2013 summer work experience opportunities were funded by the following sources:• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through the
Workforce Investment Board • Eastern Municipal Water District
Riverside County: Outcomes
• 3 entered Post-Secondary Education• 1 obtained employment• 2 are enrolled in the Empower Youth WIA Program• Program Expansion
Administrative Prep
• Identify Projects• Promote to Youth• Conduct Interviews• Perform Background Checks / Testing• Hire Youth• Sign Agreements• Complete Forms
– Orientation Checklist– Computer Network Access (office assistants)
Training
• Safety & Ethics Training (6 hours)
6 segments All6 additional segments Field Personal Protection Equipment Field Badges for Identification All
• Microsoft Office Software Review (4 hours) Word, PowerPoint, Excel All
• PowerPoint & Headquarters Tours (8 hours) 20 Departments All
Workplace Experiences
• Lunch During Orientation• Facility Tours• Recognition at a Board Meeting
Certificate & Letter of Recommendation
Workplace Competencies
• Planning, Organizing, & Scheduling• Problem Solving & Decision Making• Working with Tools and Technology
• Teamwork• Following Directions• Business Fundamentals
Workplace Competencies
Benefits to Youth
• Experience• Advice • Recommendations• Rewarding!!
Benefits to EMWD
• Increases youth awareness of careers• Provides staff with exposure to youth• Backburner projects get addressed• Rewarding!!
Future Plans
Questions?